CAPE TOWN - Non-governmental organisation Breadline Africa on Monday expressed concern that some children living in informal settlements do not have access to proper sanitation.

To mark World Toilet Day, the group opened a new container toilet at the Khulunathi Educare Centre at the Sweet Home Farm in Philippi.

According to the World Health Organisation, a child dies every 15 seconds from diseases like diarrhoea because of a lack of proper ablution facilities.

Breadline Africa's Edna Titus said up until now, more than 60 children at the centre have been relieving themselves outside.

"We had to convert a container into an ablution block which will be used by boys and girls. The container has little hand basins where they [the children] can wash their hands. They will also be taught proper hygiene care."

According to a Human Settlement report, a single toilet is shared among 100 households in some Western Cape communities.